Side-Effects Of Love Poem by moon batchelder

the thirst, the thorns, the lists
and loss of intimacy,
lust succombs
to bland familiarity at best.
at worst, a well rehearsed
contention.
the side effects of love
are seldom mentioned.

the want, the words, the vows
and all the compromises,
passion fades
then tries to reinvent the fires.
identity
is lost, the cost of bonding
a sacrifice to love
lasts well beyond it..

the heat, the highs, the thrill
and then reality,
as visions pale
to shades of mediocrity at last,
at best, a bitter condescension.
this travesty,
a lesser god's invention.